Saudi Arabia sets ambitious goal to restore degraded land

Saudi Arabia will host a significant UN conference on land degradation and desertification from December 2 to December 13, 2024. This conference, officially part of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, is seen as a critical opportunity by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who described it as a 'moonshot moment' to tackle the issues of land degradation and drought. Activists have criticized Saudi Arabia's reputation as an environmental defender, particularly highlighting its role in previous climate talks where the kingdom allegedly attempted to dilute fossil fuel phase-out initiatives. The event will see participation from thousands of delegates, including government ministers, illustrating the global commitment to addressing these pressing environmental issues. The situation in Saudi Arabia is dire, with the country facing significant impacts from desertification and land degradation. As Asia's largest oil producer, the kingdom is paradoxically engaged in environmental initiatives to combat these challenges, emphasizing the urgency of restoring productivity to its land, which has been adversely affected by human activities and climate conditions. Deputy Environment Minister Osama Faqeeha has acknowledged the severe impact of land degradation on agriculture and has shared that Saudi Arabia has already lost a staggering 40% of its land and soils. The government's response has included initiatives to recover land through measures such as banning illegal logging and expanding protected national parks. The last gathering of the UN Convention in 2022 made a commitment to restore one billion hectares of degraded land globally by 2030. In line with this, Saudi Arabia aims to recover 40 million hectares, initiating recovery efforts that have already seen the restoration of 240,000 hectares. This ambitious goal reflects the kingdom's recognition of its unique vulnerabilities to desertification, a phenomenon exacerbated by the low rainfall and arid climate prevalent in the region. The upcoming conference aims to enhance international awareness of these challenges and work toward collective global action. As the conference approaches, there are ongoing concerns regarding civil liberties in Saudi Arabia, particularly in relation to freedom of expression. While the UN event is set to allow civil society engagement, the actual allowance of protests remains uncertain in a country known for its strict limits on dissent. Nonetheless, the anticipation surrounding the meeting underscores the necessity for collaborative efforts in combating desertification, with hopes that the gathering will galvanize a stronger collective commitment to environmental protection amidst the kingdom's complex role as a leading oil exporter.